The Healing Sunshine (一厘米的阳光)

Chapter 9.2 - Inch After Inch of Time (2)

He suddenly threw that thing into her glass.

The foam that formed as it dissolved suddenly spumed. Jǐ Yi was so shaken she set her glass on the table.

The first time she gained an understanding about drugs was in 1997, when she watched Red Recipe, which had starred Zhou Xun. At that time, Zhou Xun was still a television actress. A young girl's most beautiful years were destroyed because of drugs. Jǐ Yi's memories of the movie were still fresh and vivid, and they had also been forever inscribed into her mind. Hence, a natural fear of those substances had formed within her.

And today was her first time coming into close contact with those things.

Against a background of an intense, debased beat, a woman was clutching the railing and giving a vivid demonstration of the consequences of taking that stuff. This chilled the heart to the very depths even more than seeing news reports.

"I withdrew from work-study reform school last year and moved to a little place. I wanted to get a start by being a police officer. But I didn't graduate from a police academy, so I had no choice and could only hang out with those types of people first." Fu Xiaoning looked at her. "Later, I was drinking baijiu [traditional Chinese alcoholic drink] with them every day and drank so much that I ended up vomiting blood. It was only then that my mom finally relented and let me come back."

Jǐ Yi did not know what to say.

She felt that she really could not stay here any longer. She took out her mobile phone, wanting to call Nuannuan and get her out from that dance floor so they could go back to the school.

Fu Xiaoning's hand came down on hers. "I just want to talk to you."

Nuannuan's phone call suddenly came in.

Fu Xiaoning released his hold.

As she held her phone up, she could sense his gaze boring into her. It made her want to leave right this instant. She did not want to stay here even one extra second.

"On no, this is bad, Xixi. Hurry and grab my bag for me. I'll wait for you at the main door."

"I'm coming right away." In relief, as if she had been granted a pardon, she picked up both their schoolbags and began heading towards the door. All of a sudden, Fu Xiaoning reached over to take her wrist into his hand. As if she had seen a venomous snake, she recoiled a couple of steps and nearly ended up sitting onto the table. Gazing at this reaction of hers, Fu Xiaoning smiled somewhat resignedly. "Go now. Next time, don't come to a place like this."

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This was the blackest hour before dawn. Outside, it was especially dark. Not a star was in the sky.

With their schoolbags in hand, she ran outside. Nuannuan was just outside the main door, and in that strong wind of force 5 or 6, she was shivering so fiercely her face was pale. The instant she saw Jǐ Yi, she hugged Jǐ Yi's arm and, in a type of tone that implored for mercy, said, "I'll tell you, this time we've got a big problem. That girl who has all along been trying to pursue my little uncle, she saw me. My little uncle's going to be here really soon. He told me to wait for him at the front door and that I'm not allowed to go anywhere. I'm telling you, Jǐ Yi, you need to put in good words and ask for mercy for me, or else for sure my mom is going to beat me to death this time."

Jì Chengyang?

Jǐ Yi grew panicked as well, and frantically, she began wiping at the lipstick on her lips.